Sea drome



Sept. 8, 1931. E, G; sMlTH `1,822,245

\ SEA DROME Filed NOVA. 22. 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. G. SMITH Sept. 8f, 1931.

SEA DROME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,of, H 5 M, hamm W; i M@ 1 l l r A .l 5 L m@ n Mr m /M/ j. ua w f. i m m Mr I ---L if Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p EDWARD G. SMITH, DECEASED, LATE F LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK, BY EDWARD H.

KINGSBURY, EXECUTOR, 0F LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK SEA DROME Application led November 22, 1930. YSerial No. 497,588.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in landing devices, and particularly to devices on which airplanes may land, at sea. y

5 One object of the invention is to provide a device of this` character which is composed of sections, and which sections may be easily and quickly connected together, or taken apart, for the purpose of repairing any one of said sections.

Another object is to provide a device of this character wherein each section is equipped with propelling means, whereby such section may be moved from place to place, as

- for instance, to and from shore, or other point whereby repairs may be necessary or to restore the entire device to its proper station, should the same have drifted away.

Other objects and advantages will be ap- 20 parent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sea drome 25 made in accordance with the present invention, showing the device in position assumed when the sea conditions are normal, the position of the device when the sea is in an abnormal state.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-*3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 isa longitudinal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section of one of the float changes.

Figure't is a detailed sectional view of the control valve for the float.

Referring particularly to the accompany- 40 ing drawings, it will be seen that there is provided a platform made up of a plurality of sections 10, placed in longitudinal series, and properly clamped together, by means of the turnbuckle members 11, which are f carried by the roller 12, disposed transversely of the platform sections, and fitted therebetween, such construction readily permitting flexing or independent movement of the sections, by the water. Secured to each end of the roller 12 is the upper end of an upper post section 13, the lower end ofwhich is slidable in a lower section 14, said upper section having its lower end closed, whereby to form a piston, to be acted upon by air under pressure which is admitted to the lower section Yfor the purpose of elevating said upper section, and thereby the platform sections, above the surface of the water, in

the event that the water of the sea becomes rough. Below each platform section is arranged a hull construction 15, which supports the section, andV such hull construction is provided with propeilers 16, driven by suitable engines, within the hull, and also having suit-able rudders for steering the section. A bracing frame-work17 connects the lower post sections 14, wherebyto provide a rigid structure, and mounted on said frame-work are a plurality of tanks 18, each being provided with a suitable valve 19, which is controlled fromY the platform section, in any suitable manner, for admitting water'to the tank, and for permitting the same to be eX- pelled therefrom. y Movable longitudinally K within the tank is a piston 20, which is driven in one direction by compressed air admitted to one end of the tank, whereby to drive out the water, through the valve 19. -The compressed air is admitted tothe tank by means of a conduit 21, which communicates with a storage tank mounted within the hull, Vand supplied with air by means of the air compressor also disposed in the hull. The conduit 21 is provided with a valve 24,-which is controlled from the platform section, or within the hull, whereby to permit air to enter the tank, at times, to drive out the water, and at times to permit the air to be expelled to the atmosphere, when the water entering through the valve 19, causes' the piston 2O to l,

be driven in the direction of the end of the tank at which said conduit 21 isfconnected. In the' event that water is admitted to the tanks, such water serves as ballast and causes the sinking of the structure, and when the water is driven out, and the air admitted, such air serves to render the tank buoyant, whereby to maintain the structure afloat. Sea anchors may be attached to the platform sections for the purpose of preventing undue drifting of the device from its station at sea.

It is wel known that the Water of the ocean is comparatively calm at about one hundred feet below the surface, so that when the supporting structure is at the proper depth, very little motion is imparted by the waves, and when the platform sections are elevated above the surface of the waves, by introducing compressed air into the lower post sections, the said platform sections will be little alfected by the waves, and the plat-4 form maintained in a condition to provide for easy landing of an airplane.

On the device are stored various supplies needed by aviators who are forced to land on the device, such as food, gasoline and oil, and the like.

Should the device drift away. from its station, the device, may be brough back again under its own power. It may be necessaryto make repairs to one or more of the sections, and in such event, the section orsections may be detached from the remaining sections and such detached sections propelled to the shore. It may become necessary to transport the aviators to shore in the event that their airplane has become damaged to an extent to render the same incapable of flying, andiin such case, one of the platform sections may be detached from the remainder and propelled, under its own power, tothe desired point.

lVhile I have described the platform as especially adapted for use as a landing and taking-olf `place for airplanes, I Wish it understood that such platform may be used as a life-saving station, for persons wrecked at sea, fora radio station, for fishing, and any other purpose to which the same may be conveniently adapted.

What is claimed is:

1. A float including a platform, buoyant means for supporting the platform, and movable means on the buoyant means for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the surface of the water.

2. A float including a vplatfo-rm formed in sections, means on each section for buoyantly supporting the section and movable means on eachbuoyant means for raising and lowering the associated section.`

3. A float including arplatform formed in detachably and movably connected sections, each of the sections having propelling means thereon, and means` on each of the sections for elevating such platform section above the water.

4. A marine. float including a buoyant means, a platform removably supported on the buoyant means, propelling means on the platform, and means on the buoyant means for raising and lowering the platform with respect to the surface o-f the Water.

5. VA marine float including a buoyant supporting means, platform sections detachably connected with the supporting means, propelling means on the individual sections, and means on the supporting means connected with said sections for raising and lowering the latter with respect to the Water.

6. A marine float including` a buoyant supporting means aself-propelled landing platform detachably connected Withthe supporting means, said supporting means including vertical cylinders and pistons, and means for pumping air into and exhausting air from-the cylinders for raising and lowering the pistons and said platform.

7. A marine float including a buoyant supporting means including cylinders and pistons therein, a self-propelledA platform detachably connected with the pistons, ballast tanks mounted in the` cylinders, means for admitting, andexhausting air with respect to the cylinders whereby to raise and lower the pistons and platforms, ,and means for admitting, water to the tanks and discharging same therefrom.

Signed at Little Falls, county of Herkimer, State of New York, this 15th day of May, 1931.

EDWARD H. KINGSBURY, Emecutm' of Edward G. Smith, Deceased. 

